...The GOP's caucus chairman for northeast central Pennsylvania, which includes the Lehigh Valley area. A former school teacher, Ames lives in the Coaldale Borough in Schuylkill County and has been a committee member of the GOP for 25 years. We caught up with him last week to get his thoughts on a number of items related to the '08 presidential race.

The state GOP is considering holding a straw poll at its June meeting, where the 365 state members of the party could vote for a candidate with no binding impact. Is it a good idea?

I think it actually might be a good idea. It would be a good thing to just get the feel of how our elected Republican officials feel about candidates. I think it might set a little bit of momentum for one or the other.

If a straw poll were to be held, I think a number of state committee members who I am well acquainted with already have a preference. ... The two who run the strongest in our areas would be Rudy Giuliani and John McCain.

Certainly you could get the feel of how elected Pennsylvania Republicans would feel about a future candidate for president. ... It could have national impact because of the size of the state.

Do you have a preference among the GOP candidates?

Right now I am comfortable with Rudy Giuliani or John McCain. I’m still not committed. For those who are out there right now they are two that I would support.

What issues would you like to see discussed during the presidential race?

Certainly with the national scene, the war in Iraq is an issue that many people would like to see resolved. Here in Pennsylvania, I think we are looking to see energy issues, gasoline prices, oil prices [come up]. Maybe more on a number of economic issues. Also, the high cost of health insurance. I just talked today to a guy who is a small business owner. He was telling me that his monthly insurance is $700. Everything keeps going up. He was wondering where is this going to end. He has been in business a while and is very civic minded. He wasn’t bemoaning that he is paying $700, he was wondering where is this going to end. You can see their point of view.

Another issue that is being defined is illegal immigration. That is there because it is close to where I am at. I am only 15 miles from Luzerne County [and Hazleton]. A lot of people are concerned about illegal immigration and where it is going because of the cost – because it has taken its toll on these smaller towns and communities that are already economically stressed.

Which candidate has the best ideas for dealing with the problem?

I think that is where we need to listen closely to what all these candidates have to say.

All the GOP candidates have been invited to the state Republican Party's meeting in Harrisburg from June 28-30. What's the likelihood they will attend given the fact that Pennsylvania is not expected to play a significant role in the primaries?

I believe there are several that are definitely making plans to attend. I don’t know that they are definitely coming. Generally we would not have a summer meeting. This is an extra meeting. Quite frankly, I am really totally involved in this year’s [local] elections. ...They are so critical to everybody locally. ... These are people that really directly affect you. I just hope – I know there is a lot of push toward ’08, but 2007 is just a critical year for local communities.